Cleaning device



I. A. DE VITO.

CLEANING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. I919.

Patented June 28, 1921.

. UNITED STATES JOHN A. DE VITO, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J line 28, 1921.

Application filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 885,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DE Vrro, a citizen of the United States, residing-at West Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cleaning Devices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawin s representing like parts.

' he lnvention to be hereinafter described relates to devices for cleaning automobiles and for other purposes.

One of the purposes of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for receiving water from the city main or other source of supply, thoroughly mixing soap with the water, and delivering the soapy water to the automobile or other article to be cleaned.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide readily operable means for alternatively delivering soapy wateror clear rinsing water to the automobile or other article to be cleaned.

With the aforesaid and other objects in view, the character of the invention will be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing is shown a perspective view of a device embodying; the invention, parts being broken away to disclose the internal construction of the device.

Referring to the drawing, the cleaning device shown therein as one embodiment of the invention, comprises a casing, in the present instance, in the form of a cylinder 1 having a head 3 conveniently cast integral with the cylinder, and an upper bumped head 5 secured to a flange 7 at the upper end of the cylinder by bolts 9, a packin ring 11 being interposed between sald hea and flange to prevent leakage- The cylinder 1 may have suitable sion for readily admitting a supply 0 soap therein from time to time as required. To accomplish this, in the present instance, the cylinder is provided with a neck 13 threaded to receive a cap, 15 having diametrically opposed handles 17 to enable the cap readily to e applied to or removed from the neck when required. A packing rin 19 may be interposed between the cap an theend of the neck to prevent leakage.

Suitable means may be provided for agirovi-- tating the soap in the casing, and for thoroug y mixing the soap with the water passing through the casing, as more fully hereinafter described. To accomplish this, in the present instance, a blade or blades conveniently in the form of a screw 21 is rovided within the casing on a vertical sha t 23 having its lower end journaled in a bearing 25 in the lower head 3, and its upper end journaled in a bearing 27 in the upper head 5.

Suitable means ma be provided for rotatingthe screw sha t 23. This means, in

the present instance, comprises a turbine 29 I 'fast on said shaft conveniently adjacent the upper head 5. This turbine may be rotated by 'water from the city main ,or other convenient source of supply, To direct the water to the turbine, a nozzle 31 may be mounted in the cylinder 1 adjacent the upper end thereof, and may be curved or disposed at an appropriate angle for deliveringvthe water to the blades of the turbine. ater may be supplied to the nozzle 31 through a pipe 33'which may be connected to a faucet or (other source of water supply. The pipe 33 lfnlaiy be provided with a valve 35 for cont t e supply of water to the nozzle.

Suitable means may be provided to conduct the soapy water from the casing. To accomplish this, in the present instance, a

delivery pipe 37 may be entered through the cylinder 1 and receive water therefrom preferably adjacent the lower end thereof. The delivery pipe 37 may be provided with a valve 39 for controlling the discharge therefrom, and the ipe 37 may be connected to a hose. 41 provi e with a nozzle 43 of usual construction.

The casing may be divided into a soap containing chamber 45 and. a discharge chamber 47. To accomplish this, in the present instance, apartition or plate 49 is provided and sup orted on a rib or ledge 51 projecting inward from the cylinder 1. The

late 49 may be foraminated, in the present instance, by amultiplicity of circular perforations 53 distributed throughout the same. The construction is such that the body of the soa will be retained in the soa chamber 45, but the soap water may we ily pass through the foramlnated plate 49 into the delivery chamber 47. i

When the valves 35 and 39 are opened,

and strike the blades of the turbine, thereby rotating the same at high speed. The water will thus be thoroughly agitated and delivered downward through the soap containing chamber 45, where it will mix with the soap contained therein. The screw 21 will tend to elevate the soap up from the foraminated plate 49 and agitate the soa and water and thoroughly mix the same. he soapy water will pass through the perforations in the plate 49 into the delivery chamber 47, and pass thence through the delivery pipe 37, the hose 4:1 and nozzle 43.

After the automobile orother article has been treated gsufiiciently with the soapy water, it is desirable to apply clear rinsing waterthereto to wash off the soapy water.

To accomplish this, in the present instance,-

the water supply pipe 33-and the discharge pipe 37 may be connected by a bypass pipe 55-having its end secured to T-unions 57 and 59 connected into said pipes 33 and 37 respectively. The by-pass pipe may beprovided with a control valve 58. This valve is closed during the mixing of the water with the soap and the delivery of the soapy water from the device. When it is desired to'cut off the supply of soapy water and apply the rinsing water, the valves 35 and 39 are closed, and the valve 57 is opened. This will allow clear water topass through the supply pipe 33, the bypass pipe 55, the delivery pipe 37, the hose 41 and nozzle 43 to the automobile or other device to be rinsed.

The casing may be conveniently formed of a casting having suflicient weight to support the device in position for use Without the necessity for securing the same in place. Preferably a liquid or readily soluble soap is employed, and this soap may be readily'introduced through the neck 13 into the casing as required.

The device is strong and sim le in construction and easily operated. t serves to rapidly and thoroughly mix the soap with the water so as continuously to deliver soapy water containing the proper percentage of soap for efiicient cleaning effect so long as required. The proportion of soap in the water will be readily varied by adjustment of the water supply valve 35. If this valve 1 is throttled, it will'slow down the turbine and produce less mixing efiect than when the valve is wide open. Thus, the device may be readily controlled so as to deliver a minimum amount of soap into the water consistent with eflicient cleaning efiect.

" If reduction in the percentage of. soap. without reduction in the amount of water delivered from thedevice is desired, the byass valve may be opened somewhat to alow some of the water to pass directly to the delivery pipe '37. j'

The device is cheap to manufacture, and the parts may be quickly and easily bled, and the device is not liable to get out of order in use. i

It will be understood that the invention is turbine mounted on saidshaft in said chamber, means to direct water against the turbine to rotate the same and agitate the water in the chamber, a-screw on said shaft in said chamber for elevating materials from the bottom of the chamber toward the turbine, that the materials may meet the water agitated by the turbine, and means to deliver the .water and --materials mixed therewith from said chamber.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having an apertured partition therein dividing the same into upper and lower chambers, an upright shaft mounted in the upper chamber, a turbine on said shaft located in said chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, 'a pipe having a nozzle projecting into said chamber to direct water against the blades of the turbine to rotate the turbine, the latter being arranged to agitate the water in the .upper chamber, a

. screw on said shaft for elevating soap or other materials from said partition toward said turbine to meet the water a 'tatedby the latter, and a pipe to deliver t e water and soap or other materials from the lower chamber.

3. A device of the character described,

the same into uppartition therein dividing an upright shaft per and lower chambers,

mixed therewith comprising a casing having an apertured mounted in the upper chamber, a turbine on said shaft locatedin'said chamber adjacent the upper end thereof, a pipe having a nozzle projecting into said chamber to directwater against the blades of the turbine to rotate the turbine, the latter being arran to agitate the water in the upper chain r, a screw onsaid shaft for elevating soap or other materials from said partition toward said turbine to meet the water agitated by I v the latter, a pipe to deliver the water and soap or other materials mixed therewith from the lower chamber, a by-pass pipe connecting said pipes, andwalves for said pipes operable to allow water to pass through the casing to mix with the materials in the upper chamber thereof, or to ass through'the by-pass pipe to deliver 0 car water through said P v lii testimony whereof,"- I have signed my name to this specification. JOHNAJEYIIQ; I 

